There are over a hundred pre-workout products out there, but among the best-sellers are Jack3d and BSN’s NO-Xplode. NO-Xplode is popular because it is the original nitric oxide supplement.

We definitely respect NO-Xplode – if BSN didn’t invent it, we wouldn’t have Jack3d. But things have changed. New products have come out that are stronger, leaner, meaner and more powerful, leaner, and less expensive supplements. So let’s match Jack3d vs. NO-Xplode:

Better Value/Deal: Jack3d vs. NO-Xplode

Jack3d and NO-Xplode both require you to use anywhere from 1-3 scoops, although Jack3d has much smaller scoops. The number that you use depends on your size, tolerance, and sex.

Jack3d has 45 scoops. NO-Xplode has 50.

Thanks to the Supplement Price Comparisons, you can get a can of NO-Xplode for $30 depending on the flavor (the price on Amazon constantly fluctuates around this number). Right now, you can Buy Jack3d anywhere from $19-$23, so let’s say $22.

50 scoops of NO-Xplode for $30: $30/50 = $0.60 per scoop of NO-Xplode
45 scoops of Jacked for $22: $22/45 = $0.49 per scoop of Jack3d

Jack3d contains no calories or carbs. NO-Xplode has 6 grams of carbs, in the form of maltodextrin (it also reads “modified glucose polymers”).

Maltodextrin is a very high-glycemic carb, making it quite unhealthy and unnatural. The higher a carb is on the glycemic index, the more it will spike your blood sugar levels. When you have such high blood sugar levels (such as when you ingest maltodextrin), it forces your body to react — and that reaction is pumping insulin from your liver to get rid of the sugar via fat storage.

6g isn’t the end of the world, but it all adds up, especially when using more than one scoop of NO-Xplode. You don’t need these simple carbs pre-workout, and it is merely unnecessary fat-storing filler. Don’t you want to BURN fat when you work out?

So if you’re on a cutting plan or simply don’t want extra fat-storage, two servings of NO-Xplode gives you 12 fat-storing carbs, while Jack3d has none and gets you to burn your own fat stores. Instead, we recommend proper nutrition with REAL carb sources (such as vegetables, whole grains, oats, etc) 90 minutes before your workout to get your energy levels, not processed sugars immediately before.

Nutritional Value Advantage: Jack3d

Overall Proprietary Formulas of Jack3d vs. NO-Xplode

I’m not the biggest fan of proprietary formulas because you don’t know exactly what you’re ingesting. However, with Jack3d, the formula is so simple that we at least have a clue.

With Jack3d, we can guess that we’re going to get about 1.5g of AAKG, a bit less than 1.5g creatine monohydrate, ~1g beta alanine, and maybe 85mg of caffeine (USPLabs won’t tell us, but this is a decent guess). Jack3d has all of the stuff we need, none of the stuff we don’t.

With NO-Xplode, we have no freaking clue what we’re eating in each scoop!! It’s simply 18g of stuff tossed in a barrel. We don’t have a clue how much of it is the NO-Meta Fusion (AAKG Pump complex, and other stuff). We don’t know how much of it is the Volumizing & Performance Technology… but we do know that there’s 6g of that is nasty maltodextrin. We don’t know anything besides that!

Do you know what Gynostemma Pentaphyllum (Leaves & Stem) (Gypenosides 95%) is? Do you know what Guanidino Proplonic Acid is? Because I sure don’t. So why are you eating it?

On the other hand, I can specifically explain to you the effects of every single one of the Jack3d Ingredients, as we do on the page linked there.

Proprietary Formula Confusion Advantage: Jack3d

Creatine in Jack3d vs. NO-Xplode

Creatine rocks. More specifically, creatine monohydrate rocks. It is proven safe and effective for long-term use. Anyone who argues this is dead wrong according to dozens of studies.

Jack3d is no-fuss. USP kept it simple and added creatine monohydrate, probably around 1-1.5g per scoop.

As outlined above, the amount in NO-Xplode is a complete mystery. Not only that, but how many types of creatine do you need to throw in? NO-Xplode contains Di-Creatine Malate, Creatine Ethyl Ester (which tastes like licking a 9V battery), Sodium Creatine Phosphate Matrix, and Creatinol-O-Phosphate-Malic Acid Interfusion (huh?).

This is called the “shotgun approach”. Toss in a bunch of different types of creatines and hopefully one will work. Most of them probably do work fine – but there are FAR less studies on all of these, and we know that most of them don’t work as well as creatine monohydrate in the first place! (this is proven in the case of CEE)

Do you know if the “Sodium Creatine Phosphate Matrix” is safe in the long-term? It probably is, but we don’t know. On the other hand, I can guarantee you that monohydrate is.

In the meantime, they BSN neglects the most important, dependable creatine of them all – plain ol’ monohydrate, because it’s no longer “new and shiny”. Stick with the standard, not the flashy marketing.

Magnesium in Jack3d vs. NO-Xplode

Magnesium is a stool-softener that doctors prescribe to help with constipation. Sounds EXACTLY like something I want to eat before doing squats, right?

Well, that’s what you’re eating when you take NO-Xplode. Except you’re getting it in the form of Magnesium Glycerophosphate. This stuff is awful. The compound is only 10% active, meaning that if BSN is putting 360mg of magnesium in NO-Xplode (per the label), then a whopping 3600mg of this garbage is in the final product! Take three scoops and you’re essentially getting a constipation prescription!

Jack3d has no Magnesium. Jack3d has no fillers. It takes less water and provides less bloat. And it won’t give you explosive diarrhea.

Magnesium Diarrhea Advantage: Jack3d

Flavors – Jack3d vs. NO-Xplode

This is purely personal. Jack3d is naturally flavored, but I have to admit that I’m a sucker for those artificial blue razz flavors, like NO-Xplode’s.

Jack3d’s new Grape Bubblegum blows away NO-Xplode’s grape, and the lemon-limes are a toss-up (they’re both too tart, in my opinion).

Jack3d’s Tropical Fruit punch can’t even be compared to NO-Xplode’s Fruit Punch, because Jack3d’s is more about the tropical flavoring, while No-Xplode is standard fruit punch flavoring. You may prefer either, but they’re in different classes.

Flavor Advantage: Toss-Up

To sum things up, NO-Xplode deserves its respect as the original, but it’s time we moved on. Jack3d is simpler, has germanium to put you in the zone, is a better value, and has no BS fillers to send you to the toilet.

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